Collapsible tap.



V. R. KOONTZ.

COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1916.

l 209,306. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

V. R. KOONTZ. COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3.1916.

1,209,306. Patented De0.19,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- mentary shaped ton- UNTTED STATEg PATENT @FFTQFL.

VICTOR R. KOON'IZ, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TOOL COMPAN Y, OF WAYNESBORO,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

1,2oaaoe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VICTOR R. KOONTZ, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Waynesboro, Franklin county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Taps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to automatically collapsible taps for cutting interior threads, and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention has for its purpose to provide a tap with means for adjustably set ting the bits, or chasers, whereby the working diameters thereof may be selective at will, and having a locking device for securely holding the cutters during the threading operation, and which device is automatically released, through engagement with the work, to collapse the bits.

further purpose of the invention is to produce a tool of this character which may be operated in a simple and easily performed manner, and wherein the bit adjusting, releasing, and collapsing devices will in no manner interfere with the use of the tool under ordinary working conditions.

The invention is shown by way of illus-' tration in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevational view of the tool, Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view thereof, Fig. 3 an end elevational view, Fig. 4 a horizontal sectional View, Fig. 5 a transverse sectional View, Fig. 6 a transverse sectional view-taken through thelatch, Fig. 7 an elevational View of the lever locking device and release therefor, Fig. 8 a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of lever releasing device, Fig. 9 a longitudinal sectional view of a further modified construction of the tool, and Fig. 10 a sectional view of the bit end thereof taken at right angles to Fig. 9.

The tool comprises a stock lhaving radial slots 2 at one end thereof receiving the cut tersor bits 3 that are carried by the tubular head or plunger 4 that has movement within said stock. The several bits are formed, each on one face, with a diagonally disposed groove 5, that is engaged by a complegue 6 on the head-piece after the manner shown in 4 and 5. With this arrangement it will be seen that any lateral movement of said member 4 will cause a corresponding radial movement of the several bits 3, thereby collapsing the bits or setting the same for determining their working diameter.

The bit carrying member 4 is normally under tension to collapse the bits by a spiral spring 7 located within the stock 1 and having screw engagement with the reduced end 8 of the member 4 which is threaded for this purpose. Said spring is anchored to the stock at its opposite end by means of a bushing 9, likewise having screw engagement therewith, and said bushing is adapted to be adjusted by a screw bolt 10 having its head 11 fitting flush within the end of the stock 1.

The plunger 4 is automatically released to collapse the bits through the sliding movement of a collar mounted on the stock and adapted to engage with the piece being threaded when the desired depth of thread has been cut. Said collar consists of two parts, to wit: an inner sleeve 12 mounted on the stock and an outer sleeve 13 mounted on the inner sleeve and adjustable relatively thereto. The sleeve 12is formed with a slot 18 that engages with a key or rib 14 formed in the stock to hold the sleeve against angular movement, and said sleeve 13 is slotted of the plunger 4,

at 16 to receive the pair of bolts 17 carried by the inner sleeve 12 and which secures the two sleeves together forming the collar. The two sleeves 12 and 13 are. slotted in alinement, as at 18 (see Figs. 2, 6, and 7), to allow for movement of the bit setting lever 19 that is fulcrumed at 20 on the stock, and said lever passes through the slot 21 formed in the plunger and engages to operate said plunger through a stud 22 that is located within a suitably formed recess 23 in the head of the plunger.

The several bits are held in working position by the lever 19 through the instrument 7 .of a latch that is automatically released to collapse the bits by the sliding collars engagement with the work. The latch consists of an arcuate block or bolt 24 (see Figs. 6

and 7) that works within a suitable channel-way 25 formed in the face of the stock, and is normally held in position across the path of the lever 19, to wit: the slots 18, by a spring 26. Said spring is located within an elongated recess formed in the bolt (see Figs. 4 and 6) and is anchored by a stud or pin 27 having a curved arm 28 passing through the coils of the spring in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The bolt or latch 24 is thereby normally held to engage the lever 9 through the spring 26, and a pin 28 carried by said bolt works within the cam slot 29 formed in the sleeve 12; and by the sliding movement of said sleeve, the bolt 24 is withdrawn through the pin and slot engagement (28 and 29), as will be understood. The sleeve 13 is adjustably mounted with respect to the sleeve 12, i. 6;, by the slots and bolts 16 and 17 and may therefore be set to release the latch for collapsing the bits at the desired depth of thread cutting.

hen the shape of the part to be threaded with the tap is such as to prevent the use of the trip collar, as, for instance, the tapping of a hole which is closed by a solid bottom wall, it is contemplated to use a trip pin, as shown in Fig. 8, instead of the trip collar. Vith this arrangement the head 30 of the stock is enlarged and bored to receive the pin or plunger 31 that is formed with a shank 32 havmg a cam slot 33 receiving the pin 28 of the sliding bolt 24. An adjusting screw 34 provides the contact member for the pin 31 to engage with the work, and by adjusting said screw, the bits may be collapsed at the point desired. A spring 35 is located within a chamber 36 formed in the pin 31, and engages with said pin and the stock to normally hold the former in operative position.

The several bits may be set for working at different diameters by means of a screw 37 in the head of the plunger 4 and contact-- ing with the stud 22 that engages with the lever 19; and said stud is slotted, as at 38, to receive said lever. The head-piece 39 of the tool is centrally apertured, as at 40, giving access to the adjusting screw 37 for varying the angular relation between the bit carrying plunger. The degree of throw, or angle of action of the lever is thereby regulable for radially projecting the bits 3 to the extent desired.

In lieu of the arrangement just disclosed for setting the bits, it is contemplated to employ the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and in which case the lever 19 is fulcrumed at 20 to a sleeve 41 which is adjusted on the stock 1 by a collar 42 screw-threaded on said stock. In this instance the bit carrying member 43 is engaged directly by the lever at the point 44, andthe lever is adapted to be released by a latch operated from the collar slidably mounted on the sleeve 41, as in the former instance. In this construction the stock 1 is of less diameter than in the former case, and likewise the'plunger 43,

V retraction spring 7, and their associated .65 parts are correspondmgly reducedfinsize.

said lever and the bits,

The shiftable fulcrum for the lever 19 in this case allows for regulating the throw of the plunger 43, as will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 9.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims. 7

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a collapsible tap the combination of a stock, a bit supporting member movably mounted in the stock, bits carried by said member, a spring engaging said member and operable to collapse the bits, a lever for moving said member to set the bits, a device for holding said lever to secure the bits in set position, means for automatically actuating said device to release the lever, and means mounted wholly on the bit supporting member engaging with said lever for determining the working diameter-of said bits, substantially as set forth.

2. In a collapsible tap the combination'of a stock, a bit supporting member movably mounted in the stock, bits carried by said member, a spring engaging said member and operable to collapse the bits,a lever fulcrumed on the stock and engaging said member to set the bits, a latch for holding said lever to secure the bits in set position, a slidable member carried by the stock automatically operable to move said latch and release the lever, and adjustable means mounted wholly on said bit supporting member engaging with said lever for determining the working diameter of said bits, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tap the combination of astock, a bit supporting member mounted in the stock, bits carried by said member, a lever fulcrumed on the stock, a stud mounted in said member engaging with the lever for setting the member engaging with said stud for detel-mining the working diameter of the bits, substantially as set forth.

4. In a collapsible tap a stock, a bit in the stock and formed with a slot therethrough, bits carried by said member, a lever fulcrumed on the stock and passing through said slot, a stud adjustably'mounted in the member and engaging with said lever for setting and determining the working diameter of said hits, a, latch working within a groove in the face of the stock for holding said lever, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on the bit operable to actuate said latchto release bits, substantially as set forth.

.5. In .a collapsible tap the combination of the lever and collapse the the combination of 1 supporting member mounted a stock, a plunger movably mounted in the stock, bits carried by the plunger, means for retracting the plunger to collapse the bits, a lever engaging with the plunger to set the bits, a latch mounted on the stock adapted to engage the lever and hold the bits in set position, and a collar mounted on the stock having a cam slot engagement with the latch operable to release the lever and collapse the bits through said plunger, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a collapsible tap having a movable member carrying the bits and retracting means therefor, of a fulcrumed lever for setting the bits, a latch associated with the lever for holding the bits in set position comprising a slidable bolt, a spring normally holding the bolt in engagement with the lever, and means for effecting the automatic release of said bolt, substantially as set forth.

7. In a collapsible tap the combination of a stock, a plunger mounted in the stock, bits carried by the plunger, means for retracting the plunger, a. lever fulcrumed on the stock engaging with the plunger for setting the bits, a collar slidably mounted on the stock and having a slot receiving said lever, a slidable bolt mounted within the face of the stock and operable to project across the path of the lever and lock the same, and a pin carried by said bolt having a cam slot engagement with said collar whereby to actuate said bolt to release the lever for collapsing the bits, substantially as set forth.

8. In a collapsible tap the combination of a stock, a carried by sald plunger, a member fixed to the stock, and a retraction spring having screw engagement at its respective ends with said fixed member and the plunger, substantially as set forth.

9. In a collapsible tap the combination of plunger mounted in the stock, bits a stock, a plunger mounted in the stock and having a threaded portion, bits carried by the plunger, a threaded member adjustably mounted in the stock, and a spiral retraction spring for the plunger having screw engagement with said threaded members, substantially as set forth.

10. In acollapsible tap the combination of a stock, a plunger mounted in the stock and having a threaded portion, bits carried by the plunger, a threaded bushing mounted in the plunger, a spiral retraction spring for the plunger having screw engagement with said threaded members, and a bolt mounted on the plunger having screw engagement with said bushing for regulating the tension on said spring, substantially as set forth.

11. In a collapsible tap the combination of a stock, a tubular plunger mounted in the stock, bits carried by said plunger, a retraction spring for the plunger adjustably mounted in the stock, a lever fulcrumed on the stock and engaging with said plunger to set the bits, an arcuate bolt mounted within the face of the stock and adapted to engage with and hold said lever, a pin carried by said arcuate bolt, a sleeve slidably mounted on the stock having a cam slot engagement with said pin to move said bolt and eifect the release of the lever, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on the first named sleeve adapted to engage with the work and thereby actuate the bolt releasing sleeve, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at lVaynesboro, Pennsylvania, this 9th day of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and sixteen.

VICTOR R. KOONTZ. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

ETHEL WASI-IABAUGH, A. STOVER Frrz,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

